Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-19
THE ICY NORrHwExT.
Terrible Sufferings % MAN and Deasl
for the Past SIX Weeks In Montana.

Terrible Sufferimgs Of Ma0 And Oe00o
for the Past SIX Weeks IN Montana.
AssrSABorSE, MONT, Feb. 1p.-For six weeks un.
precedented SHOWS billiards and gales have ragged
through the northern and western portions of
Montana until mans only safety depended upon
his remaining within the house. The oldest set
tiers Acknowledges that the winter Is the most
Severe s, Tor ten years For days the thermometd
and during one period OF "a hours registered 50
degrees below zero. The main range OF the
tana from TO g feet OF snow. and there Is an
average depth OF 90 inches upon the prafr1eS
Drins have formed upon the cattle ranges IN the
coules ana along the stage routes 20 a remsrkaoie
depth, and the surface OF the snow r. covered with
crust too thick for the cattle TO break IN order
mat they may reach the grass stock OF all kinda
SUFFERING N THE MOST FEARFUL MANNER,
and. whiie some OF the cattlemen estimate the
proDapie loes at % per cent the majority claim "a
have quit figuring on the losses now and will bs
thankful II they have enough LEFT 20 start anew In
paid with alacrity. The various mail-coach lines
have been the greatest sufferers by the impasSa.
ble roads the delay OF mails and the mortality
among their stock, the Helena and Benton stage
company alone having lost 40 head OF horses since
Christmas. should prolonged chinook set In
now there would be sudden break -up of the Mis-
souri river from Benton down, causing trcrnen-
dous gorges and an immense amount OF destruc-
ton. AT all events. there Will be big river and
long season OF navigation the coming summer.
FUEL VERY SCARCE.
The great and continued cold weather has caused
In many places a serious fuel famine. AZ this
place, where thousands OF cords OF wood ara
consumed annually, the supply contracted for In
last the fiscal year ending June 20 Is nearly
exhausted, and IL viii be impossible TO secure
more at present In the town OF Fort Benton the
question OF fuel becoming most serious, especially
TO the poorer classes, who are unable TO pay thd
eXorbitant prices demanded. Inferior cottonwood
Is easily sold at Sl4 cord, and the ranchmen
living along the Teton bring In green willow poles
and dispose OF them at from 81 TO sl2 load. The
last train OF wagons loaded with merchandise was
over thirty days reaching Benton from Helena,
one hundred miles
BROKE HER SHAFT m THE rcE.
MAckINAw CITY, MICH, Feb l9.-A high wind
ana onnding snow storm set In at O'Clock Thurs
day evening, increasing In velocity until midnighu
ana continuing until noon yesterday. IL was by
transfer steamer Algoah battled with ft ali night
on her trip from Saint 1gnace TO Mackfnaw City.
with party OF passengers and a large amount OF
freight The passengers all came ashore over the
Ice at noon, and reported the vessel had broken
the main SHAFT or her coupling half mile out.
where she Will have TO remain until the twelve
hundred pound casting Is taken TO Detroit for re.
pairs and returned, which win take at least eight
days
CANTON, DAK, Feb. 1a-The worst blizzard Of
the season has been raging throughout Dakota
since Thursday noon All trains are abandoned,
ana business Is at standstill on account OF the
Immense quantity OF snow on the ground.
THE STORM IN DAKOTA coNTAUEs
HURON, DAK-, Feb. 19.-The storm that com.
menced Thursday has not yet ceased. The wind
Is from the north, but Is not cold The snow IS
roads are mostly impossible. The Bismarck train.
which got as far as Redneld Thursday, was
brought back here yesterday, and q locomotive
run from Brookingo TO Volga was the only wheel
turned on the 200 miles OF the Dakota Central
division OF the Chicago and Northwestern road to-
day. No efforts Will be made TO clear the roads
until the storm subsidies. The past thirty-sx
| this part OF Dakota since 1880.